In Google Slides, you might need to add footnotes to include extra information or citations. Although Google Slides doesn’t have a dedicated “footnote” feature like word processors, you can still add footnotes manually by inserting text boxes at the bottom of your slides. This guide will walk you through the steps to add footnotes to your Google Slides presentation. Let’s get started.
What are Footnotes?
Footnotes are brief notes placed at the bottom of a slide or page that provide additional information or citations related to the content above. They are commonly used in academic and professional presentations to give credit to sources or offer extra details that might not fit directly into the main content.
How to Add a Footnote to a Single Slide in Google Slides?
To add a footnote to a single slide, follow these steps:
Step 1: Create a text box: On the slide where you want the footnote, click the “Text box” button in the toolbar or go to “Insert” > “Text box” in the menu. Drag to create a text box of the desired size.
Step 2: Enter the footnote: Type your footnote text into the box. If you’re using a number or symbol as a reference, place it before the text.
Step 3: Position the footnote: Move the text box to the bottom of the slide and align it as needed. Footnotes are usually left-aligned, but you can position them anywhere at the bottom.
Step 4: Format the footnote: To make the text smaller, use the “Decrease font size” button (minus sign) in the toolbar. To make the number or symbol appear as a superscript, go to “Format” > “Text” > “Superscript”.
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Adding a Footnote Indicator
Once you’ve created your footnote, you can add a small marker to your main text to indicate where the extra information can be found.
To do this:
Step 1: Place your cursor directly after the word or phrase you want to reference.
Step 2: Type the number or symbol you’ll use for the footnote (we’ll use “1” as an example).
Step 3: Select the number and go to the “Format” menu.
Step 4: Choose “Text” followed by “Superscript”. This will make the number smaller and raise.
Step 5: Now you have a tiny marker linking to your footnote at the bottom of the slide.
Step 6: If you have more footnotes, simply repeat these steps, using the next number or symbol.
How to Add Footnotes to Several or All Slides in Google Slides?
Want to add the same text or image to the bottom of multiple or all your slides? Instead of manually adding it to each slide, you can use Google Slides’ theme editor.
Step 1: Go to Slide > Edit theme. You’ll see all your slide layouts.
Step 2: Choose the layout you want to add the footnote to. If you want it on all slides, select the first layout.
Step 3: Next, click Insert text placeholder and choose Text box.
Step 4: Drag to create a box at the bottom of the slide. Type in your footnote.
Step 5: Once you’re done, close the theme editor. The footnote should appear on the chosen slides. If you need to make changes, just reopen the theme editor.
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How to Add Footnotes for Images and Data in Google Slides?
Step 1: Add a small number next to your image or chart: Click on a text box near the image and type a superscript number (e.g. ¹). To make it superscript, select the number and go to Format > Text > Superscript.
Step 2: Create a text box at the bottom of the slide: Go to Insert > Text box and drag a thin box along the very bottom of the slide.
Step 3: Type the matching footnote: Start with the same number (e.g. ¹) followed by the source name, URL, or credit. Keep it short — one line is ideal.
Step 4: Reduce the font size: Set the footnote text to 8–10pt so it stays subtle and doesn’t compete with the main content.
Step 5: Align it to the left margin: Left-align the text box to match the slide’s natural reading flow and keep it looking clean.
Step 6: Repeat for each image or data point: Use ², ³, and so on for multiple sources on the same slide, each with its matching note at the bottom.
How to Format Footnotes Correctly in Google Slides?
- Font size – Keep footnote text between 8–10pt. This makes it visually distinct from the main content (usually 18–24pt) without becoming unreadable.
- Font style – Use the same font family as the rest of your slide. Switching fonts for footnotes looks inconsistent and unprofessional.
- Superscript indicators – Always make the reference number in both the main text and the footnote a superscript. Select the number > Format > Text > Superscript. This is the universal standard for footnote markers.
- Positioning Place the footnote text box at the very bottom of the slide, respecting the slide’s left margin. Leave at least 8–10px of breathing room between the footnote and the slide edge.
- Color – Use a slightly muted version of your main text color — not pure black, not light gray. It should be readable but visually secondary to the main content.
- Spacing between multiple footnotes – If you have more than one footnote on a slide, stack them in a single text box separated by line breaks rather than creating multiple text boxes. This keeps them aligned and easier to manage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Footnotes in Google Slides
- Using too many footnotes on a single slide – If every sentence has a footnote, the bottom of your slide becomes a wall of text. If you have more than 3 footnotes on one slide, consolidate your sources or move some details to speaker notes.
- Forgetting the superscript indicator – Adding a footnote at the bottom without placing the matching superscript number in the main content leaves your audience confused about what the footnote is referencing.
- Inconsistent formatting across slides – Using different fonts, sizes, or positions for footnotes on different slides looks sloppy. Set a standard style early and stick to it throughout the entire presentation.
- Placing critical information in footnotes – Footnotes are for supporting details only. If the audience needs to read it to understand the slide, it belongs in the main content and not at the bottom.
- Not updating footnotes after editing the slide content – When you rearrange or remove content, footnote numbers can get out of sync with their indicators. Always do a final check to make sure every superscript in the slide matches the right footnote at the bottom.
When to Use Footnotes in Google Slides?
- Citing data or statistics — If a number or claim on your slide comes from a source, a footnote keeps the credit visible without cluttering the slide.
- Crediting images or charts — When using stock photos, graphs, or third-party visuals, a footnote is the cleanest way to attribute the original source.
- Defining technical terms — If your audience may not know a term, but defining it on the slide would break the flow, a footnote handles it quietly.
- Adding context that supports a claim — When a point needs a little backing detail that isn’t important enough for the main slide, footnotes keep it accessible without stealing focus.
- Academic or research presentations — Any slide deck that will be shared, reviewed, or published benefits from proper citations — footnotes are the standard way to do this.
- Legal or compliance disclaimers — Industries like finance, healthcare, or law often require mandatory disclosures. Footnotes are the right place for these without dominating the slide design.
When NOT to use footnotes
- Long explanations or paragraphs — if it needs more than two lines, it belongs in the speaker notes instead.
- Information the audience needs to act on — anything critical should be in the main slide content, not hidden at the bottom.
Closing Thoughts
Adding footnotes in Google Slides may require a bit of manual effort, but it’s a straightforward process that helps you provide essential details and citations in your presentations. By following these simple steps, you can ensure your slides remain clean and professional while giving proper credit and context to your content. Whether you’re working on a single slide or updating multiple slides at once, these methods will enhance the credibility and clarity of your presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adding a Footnote in Google Slides
Can I customize footnote formatting?
Yes, you can fully customize the appearance of your footnotes. Use the formatting tools in Google Slides to change font, size, color, and more to match your presentation’s style.
Is there a limit to footnote length?
There’s no strict character or word count limit for footnotes in Google Slides. However, for readability, keep them concise and focused on important information.
Can I collaborate on footnotes?
Absolutely! Footnotes are shared among collaborators in a Google Slides presentation. Everyone can view, edit, or add footnotes as needed.
Can I add footnotes on the mobile app?
Yes, you can create and edit footnotes directly within the Google Slides mobile app. The process is similar to the desktop version.
Can I add links in footnotes?
Unfortunately, Google Slides doesn’t allow direct hyperlinks in footnotes. You can include the website address in the footnote text and manually open it during your presentation.
